Beaverton: “u up to make cookies, bitch?” texts Grandma after midnight glass of sherry https://www.thebeaverton.com/2023/09/u-up-to-make-cookies-bitch-texts-grandma-after-midnight-glass-of-sherry/ #satire #canada #commentary #newsinphotos #Grandmother #Photos #uup?

@marcas @harriettmb @irelandpolitics

Then I can't see the #DUP ever attracting any new voters especially the younger ones. They aren't capable of changing to make them more attractive. Doug may be trying to change the #UUP but the traditionalists in his party won't accept they need to change either.

So it NI will continue to move away from the Unionist parties towards SF/Alliance which you can argue - are looking good when compared to the #Unionist parties.

Something needs to change in #NI

@bioluminescently @harriettmb @irelandpolitics

We aren't going back - no matter how they try to drag us back, so they can feel safe because they can't cope with the modern world.

For me #UUP & #DUP need to go away. Allow the more moderate and accepting voices that are within #Unionism but are frightened to speak out, need to take over.

NI isn't their playground anymore, the people aren't willing to allow them to dictate or hold us back.

There truly is no low the #DUP #UUP #TUV won’t find in order to try and cancel any reasonable conversation around the risk to life and property from unauthorised bonfires. Members of the public have to pay in their rates, when an individual is injured by one of these; and the public pays for the cleanup afterwards. #NIPolitics @norniron @irelandpolitics

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/mid-east-antrim-council-refers-27392609

@genie_mac @ellyjohnston Kilclooney is in HoL, so collects that stipend. He’s no longer designated as a member of the #UUP. Imo, there should be a time limit on all of them-say 25 years maximum from the day they are enobled.

@irelandpolitics @ellyjohnston Given his tone deaf responses and comments around the whole Protocol issue, I would not use or recommend this ‘management consultancy’ to anyone, ever. In person, he’s shockingly rude and arrogant, and his wife is just as bad. She called the PSNI on pensioners attending the UUP office, and shouted at all the people standing in a bus queue about them. It was appalling, and they hadn’t’ even asked a question. #UUP #NIpolitics @irelandpolitics

@harriettmb @irelandpolitics

That probably wasn't in Jr thought process when he decided to help them out.

Something has shifted in Jeff's thinking - money, seat in the Lords or some fig leaf about the status of NI.

Jeff is now getting a taste of what he did to Trimble before he abandoned the #UUP.

@harriettmb @therightarticle

Her face spoke for all of us - while he spoke undiluted bigotry. Mary Lou shouldn't run as many candidates, so Unionism has a chance & doesn't upset community relations.

While the #DUP & #UUP were controlling this place - did they worry about cross community relations???

Time they faced the new reality they face!

@harriettmb

I think the #DUP are selling it as a win because they have seen of the challenge from #UUP & #TUV. They are clearly relieved that they are still the biggest Unionist party. The small matter of their shrinking vote share and the fact they didn't gain any seats is something they are glossing over.

They can't even begin to address core problems that #Unionism face. It's vote is shrinking, they can't even convince the voters they have to vote to come out and vote for them

@ToniScott

I would say the #UUP vote is disappearing to the #Alliance party.

I really doubt that #Unionism vote had disappeared - large parts of Unionism's vote stayed at home. One electoral ward was as low as 33%!

They are still there but their politicians aren't motivating them to come out! #NIpolitics

@Geri @harriettmb

It is when they ran 20 less candidates than 2019. So it their performance doesn't look as bad. They are calling it vote management!

Alliance was the only other party to actually gain seats and increase their vote share - 3% increase. They are the 3rd largest party in #NI replacing #uup

Nationalism got their vote out but Unionism didn't. Those who did vote sent a message to Jeff to get back to work.

Someone in the #UUP tell Danny Kennedy to shut up & quickly. He really is making an idiot of himself. #Nationalism shrinks it vote to make #Unionism feel better about it's continued shrinking vote. #LE23 #NIpolitics

@harriettmb

Of course Harriett, he should have kept his opinions to himself. But they can't help themselves! They think they are entitled to speak on your behalf.

Thanks to the poor impression the #DUP candidate did of snarky teenager being told off. I changed my mind in the polling station - gave the #UUP a transfer after all & it was higher than I would have liked!

As wee Jeff (looked comes on the tele box today - talking about being biggest party of #Unionism, which is correct.

But remember that the Unionism (#UUP & #DUP) were once the biggest parties throughout NI history. The #UUP once dominated #Belfast City Council - which now has #Sinn Fein has it's largest party.

#Doug & #Jeff are talking about the #future of Unionism, getting their people out to vote. It would help if they offered them a vision of the #future that didn't look like #NI pre

@JohnLoader6 @oranger2020 @jackLondon

Brexit changed everything - I am a small example of that. I was a #UUP voter, contented #unionist and had no strong feelings on the constitutional future of #ni

Now after Brexit, the last 7 years, I am happy to admit that I am no longer a Unionist, see no good future for #NI in the UK union. I am very much leaning towards voting for #UI but will need to see what the details are.

We need to learn the lessons of Brexit!

@harriettmb

I had hope that Doug would follow in Mike's footsteps. To try and make #UUP more open and understanding to non unionists but he failed in that once he stood beside Jeff who stood beside Jim & 🚮

He had the opportunity to attack the DUP'S stance and take a stand. However, he decided not to take that route. So Alliance is the only option for many moderate unionists.#NIpolitics

Another reason why the #UUP won't he getting a vote or transfer from me ever again.

I made a mistake of giving them a transfer at the last assmebly election.

They really could offer a moderate unionist a home but while they side with TUV & #DUP. They will drive voters to the #Alliance party.

https://bird.makeup/users/joebrolly1993/statuses/1650075257229701120

@Loukas

The #UUP have indeed been called Lundies quite recently - for daring to suggest that even though the #WindsorFramework isn't perfect. Maybe it is time to get the powersharing institutions up and running for the good of the people of #ni

They were attacked for selling Unionism out, siding with the EU over the Unionist people. I say this with my tongue firmly in my cheek- when KCIII met with the President of rhe EU, when WF was signed - some made the joke that Charles was a Lundy.

@harriettmb

Seriously 🚮boy makes an idiot of himself every time he opens his mouth. Maybe if you add the #DUP/#TUV and #UUP vote together Unionism has 260k votes. However they can't unite together so that won't be happening until anytime soon.

Let them live in an echo chamber. Eventually the realities catch up with them. For example Nigel discovered that us in #NorthBelfast were fed up with him as our MP and made him redundant.

Election results will be interesting!

@harriettmb

She would probably only do an interview with some idiot from #GBNews if she does attend.

If she does attend, I hope someone asks her why she thinks she has a right to be there? When she left #UUP, destroyed Trimble's career because she didn't support the #GoodFridayAgreement and still doesn't. So why should you get a honour in respect of that agreement?